What is the best way to hook up my DVD Player (OPPO DV-981 HD) to a Yamaha RX V-800 Receiver and Samsung LCD 46 TV. The player has a HDMI out put (no component outputs). The receiver has no HDMI inputs. Can I go HDMI from player direct to TV and go optical from player to optical input on the receiver? The fact that the HDMI carries sound and video will this interfer with the optical sound? Any help appreciated.
I'm pretty sure the solution you've suggested here would solve your problem, Capricon. The only downside is that you'll have to switch two units - the receiver and the TV input - whenever you want to watch a DVD. As for sound, as long as you turn off the sound on your LCD (which personally I think you always SHOULD do if you're using a quality receiver and speakers), I wouldn't think you'd get any sound interference. The sound going to the receiver via optical should work fine.
Another possible configuration would be to connect video+sound from DVD player to TV. Then, if your TV has quality audio-out connections, you could connect sound from TV to receiver. Personally, I like your solution better, but this could be another option.
What Chris posted is correct. The outputs on the DVD plaer should be parallel. In otherwords, they should be available at the same time. Run the optical output to the receiver and the HDMI to the TV. Please note that the optical output MAY need to be enabled on the DVD. Not all players activate the optical output by default.
Dan
Here's a fun trick:
Most HDMI enabled TVs sport an optical output that will carry digital audio back to a receiver, which is convenient if you have two or more HDMI ports on your TV being used. One optical connection from the TV to the receiver will carry all digital audio back. If you only have one HDMI device, there's no convenience for doing it this way, as it takes the same number of inputs on each device either way.
So the trick, your TV also has a set of analog audio outputs for standard gear. If your receiver automatically selects between digital and analog audio on the same input (based on signal presence), then you can run all audio and video to the TV (provided your TV has enough inputs for all your stuff), then output analog and digital audio from the TV to the same input on the receiver. The end effect is you only have to switch inputs on the TV. That's a lot to check, but if the goal is to only switch inputs on one device, this may work for you.
From a connectivity perspective, Matt is correct. I don't think you will get the same sound quality from the TV analog outputs though. The optical connection will be better.
Dan
Sure, I should be a tad more specific though. I'm specifically talking HDMI gear for the optical output from the TV. If you have a device that supports HD or digital audio but only has component connections, you'll need to run digital audio directly to the receiver. Nothing can be done about that.
For gear that has only analog outputs for audio and video, like VCRs and older DVRs, then running audio and video to the TV then audio out of the TV analog won't make any difference in performance.